Some religions don't have a prayer

Excerpts from an article dated August 8, 2005
By Sheila Suess Kennedy

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On May 18, the Texas state comptroller ruled that the Red River Unitarian Universalist Church was not a "religious organization" for tax purposes. The comptroller based her denial of tax-exempt status on the fact that "the church does not have one system of belief" and does not require belief in a deity.
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The public outcry over the Unitarian denial led to a quick reversal of that decision, but Strayhorn remained adamant about Ethical Culture, which then brought suit, alleging religious discrimination. Ethical Culture describes itself as a religious, philosophical and educational movement focused upon how people live rather than on what they believe. Defying the trial court and Texas Supreme Court, which both ruled against her, Strayhorn has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that if Ethical Culture wins, "any wannabe cult who dresses up and parades down Sixth Street on Halloween" will apply for a tax exemption.
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The Ethical Society's Web site defines its mission as a "look beyond the differences between religions to embrace the common core of ethics at the heart of all worldwide faiths." Is that really less authentically "religious" than riding the Jesus roller coaster?